Jermain Defoe was persuaded to join Toronto - after a phone call from rap mega-star Drake.
The
Canadian rapper has been recruited by Toronto FC for an ambassadorial
role, and rang Tottenham striker Defoe to try and talk him into moving
to his hometown Major League Soccer team.
Defoe, 31, is a huge fan
of Drake - who is massively popular among footballers - and was blown
away that he made personal contact, according to sources in Toronto.
Toronto FC say they have used Drake to help them recruit big stars to their team, and now - as we exclusively revealed in October - Defoe is now set to go to MLS.Thank Me Later: Toronto-born Drake is a favourite artist among footballers

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But the England international, who has agreed a mega-bucks four year contract, is expected to be loaned back to the north Londoners until pre-season starts ahead of the North American league's big kick-off on March 8.
Defoe
is acutely aware that his Canadian switch could affect his World Cup
chances, but is confident he can still make Roy Hodgson's squad for
Brazil next summer and believes the offer was too good to turn down.
The
31-year-old has been offered a deal worth £90,000-a-week, while Toronto
will also pay for unlimited flights for him and his family and provide
him with two houses.
It is a huge retirement package, and the call from Drake helped seal the deal with Toronto.